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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

Gym mums

29 replies

FFSenoughofthis · 06/05/2017 20:09

A question for those those kids do club/squad gymnastics. At what stage were they selected? And we're you initially approached by the coaches?

DD has recently moved to a new place, to the untrained eye she seems to be a "natural". She's in an advanced class, but is desperate to do competitions. Would I seem a twat if I approached the coach and said she was interested in doing more and asking if they thought she was capable? I kinda assumed if they thought she had potential they'd approach me. That said though, her last place was useless so I never know what to do!

OP posts:

lyricaldancer · 06/05/2017 20:23

How old is she? What's the name of the advanced class she's in? How many hours?
I'm asking because the type of class may be an indicator as to what 'track' she's on a present.

We received a letter from the coaches, and were asked to attend a meeting with other parents, initially.

TheForgetfulCat · 07/05/2017 08:21

How old is she? They do tend to pick them out quite young. Do you think she would be up for dozens of hours a week, or just more than she's doing and the opportunity to compete?

I don't think you would be wrong to ask for a chat with the coaches - you've phrased it very sensibly as 'my DD seems capable and would love to do more'. I suspect they'd only get annoyed if you approached it as 'why are you overlooking my DD who is clearly the next Ellie Downie'

I have a DD who has talent and enthusiasm but isn't good enough to be picked for a serious development squad. What has worked really well for her is joining a big club that has lots of different pathways in between the one hour recreational and the terrifying elite pathway. She has done a few local competitions and recently been performing with the clubs display team. You might find that your DDs new club has similar options which they can advise you about.

Original poster

FFSenoughofthis · 07/05/2017 09:07

She's 7, which is what's making me think more about it as I think she'd more than likely be "past it" very soon. I very much doubt she'd be up for or talented enough for elite type training, but would defo be up for at least 1 more session a week.

She does 1.5 hrs a week in a group that is a step up from the Rec classes, but don't do any competitions. They do seem to have lots of different pathways, including the kids that do over 30 hours a week!

I might give her a prod to ask her coach, might sound better coming from her haha!

OP posts:

stickygotstuck · 07/05/2017 23:25

Watching with interest op. DD is in the exact situation.
A word of warning. DD said she'd like to do more too and when I asked her coach (saying almost exactly what you plan to say) she did not even let me finish the sentence. She said that she wasn't going to move her up because I asked. I didn't. She just didn't listen. Bloody annoying and thinking of removing DD from club. So just be aware of that as a possibility.

lyricaldancer · 08/05/2017 01:27

No harm in asking, and about an extra session. Though in our club they've usually, with some exceptions, picked them out quite early on. My child was doing 10.5 hours a week, over four days, in development squad by 7 years.

Original poster

FFSenoughofthis · 08/05/2017 15:26

sticky that's exactly what worries me might happen! I think I'll gently encourage DD to say something, she's not backwards in coming forwards.

lyrical that's as I assumed it would be and I'm really aware that time is definitely not on her side, which seems so silly when she still seems so young!

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TheForgetfulCat · 08/05/2017 17:17

OK, that makes sense. Ridiculously they probably have picked them for the elite or very competitive track by 6 or 7, but it sounds like that's not what you want anyway. It really isn't for everyone.

Would someone in the club be able to explain/ show you what the different pathways are? I know they can have their share of pushy parents but you don't sound like one. If you are new to the club could you say that you want to understand what the different options are for DD IF she is able and interested in doing more? It really shouldn't be pushy to ask what the options are and how you would access them!

TheForgetfulCat · 08/05/2017 17:18

And a PS - if the options are not encouraging, are there gymnastics related classes she could do that would complement her gym class and give her a bit more?

Tumbling or trampolining club?

2014newme · 08/05/2017 17:20

Not necessarily. One of our friends was 8 before she moved from competitive squad(4 hours) to elite (20-30 hours) so it can be done when a bit older.

KatyBerry · 08/05/2017 17:23

Are you aware of the UK Gymnastics track (as opposed to GB)? it was set up precisely to address this situation - girls compete at all ages at their levels, so there are some 14 year old relative novices and some 7 year old high fliers. At the top end of the UK system it can merge back in with the GB elite track, but it gives grassroots participants the chance to compete. At 7, mine was doing about 3 hours / week in UKG, and by 9 it was 8 hours / week UK and more at school (where she's in a team with girls doing the BG elite training - 20 hours / week or so at 9).It was a mixture of coaches suggesting and us asking and nobody ever made anyone feel like an idiot. There are no ice baths involved, no being shouted at but no Team GB at the end of it. They compete regularly around the year and the whole organisation is really supportive and fun. Highly recommend it.

MissEliza · 08/05/2017 17:55

I'm interested to hear of others' experiences. My dd started at the age of 6 and in the second session the coaches told me how impressed they were. She is very natural. After about three terms she was in the highest level class. She's 8 1/2 now and is in a non- competitive team. She's happy but I wonder if she's not being challenged enough. I've been told by other parents that the competitive squads are selected very early on and they only take people if someone is kicked out. It seems ridiculous to select and exclude children so young.

2014newme · 08/05/2017 19:06

I think talented children will be snapped up for competitive squads tbh they will make space for an exceptional child. But there is some mystique about what they are looking for and often it's surprising the ones that turn out to be the best. Our club is Olympic standard and there are some amazing gymnasts but the coach says some of the best she's coached, who've competed in the Olympics, have not been the ones you would have predicted to get that far.

stickygotstuck · 08/05/2017 19:39

Katy, the UKGymnastics track as you describe it sounds great. That's what I assumed - that most children could get a taste of competition, each at their level. DD herself loves her gymnastics, but as her parents, the main reason to take her to lessons is to improve her confidence, which the very act of taking part in competitions (even basic, even if you don't win) should really help with.

That is very interesting, 2014newme. 'Mystique' is a great way to describe it, and I for one would love to know exactly what it is that they are looking for. In our club some of the girls recently picked up from DD'd class don't seem the best to the untrained eye. What they do have in common though is that they are very, very petite.

Would I be right to assume that if you are tall or heavyish you are not going to be picked for competitions, even if you are doing really well right now?

Wizzysmum1 · 08/05/2017 19:44

My dad was selected at 6 for squad

Wizzysmum1 · 08/05/2017 19:45

Dd 😆

lyricaldancer · 09/05/2017 01:57

*What they do have in common though is that they are very, very petite.

Lots of them are very petite. Children with the right body type, and with any potential seem to be snapped up. Sports acro has more of a mix as they need the bases and middles to be taller. I've also seen a mix of heights in tumbling competitions, though nobody very much taller than average.

Original poster

FFSenoughofthis · 09/05/2017 08:08

UK gymnastics sounds exactly like what I'm looking for! I reckon gymnastics is probably very much like dance with what they're looking for. I did ballet to a high level and they were always looking for potential and what shape you are rather than your actual standard. Hence little short me with chunky thighs never got anywhere!

Still considering my options and the best way to go about things. I don't really get chance to see her coach, but was thinking about maybe sending an email go the club secretary who was lovely when I first emailed her about starting and just asking her to explain what paths may be open to her if she's able.

God it's so bloody hard not to come across pushy!

OP posts:

2014newme · 09/05/2017 09:27

You'd be hard pressed to find a heavy gymnast, they burn off so much energy with all that training. That said there are a couple of chubby ones in the competitive squad at our gym. The elite squad are a mixture of heights, they ate all Rock solid muscle even the younger ones. I wouldn't say petite I would say athletic build.

KatyBerry · 09/05/2017 09:53

I was at the schools national champs this weekend and there were some excellent gymnasts who were big, tall girls doing sensational tumbling. UK Gym competitions also has some girls who are carrying a few pounds but they're participating, competing and they are having fun - it's meant to be inclusive so if they can do the moves, they can join in, and some of them do very well indeed.

stickygotstuck · 09/05/2017 10:50

Thanks lyrical, newme and Katy.

I have been to a couple of displays where I have seen chubby gymnasts doing great work. Which I why I assumed any child with some ability would have a chance to compete/do displays - they were picked for the team.

DD is very slim, but quite tall for her age and built of hard muscle. Her height and muscle content in itself will obviously make her heavier than shorter ones. She can do well some of the stuff the petite girls can't do at all, and she is often asked to demonstrate for everybody else, but it's always these tiny girls that get picked for competitive squad.

For instance, a few weeks ago DD told me that 'Hannah' and 'Bella' were picked for the squad recently 'but they can't even do a straight cartwheel, a walkover or a split'. I have seen 'Hannah' and 'Bella' in class a few times and she is right. So I am guessing that for her particular club body type is more important than ability/effort.

I am beginning to think that this may be the wrong club for her, especially if she has begun to notice these things herself.

Are UKG clubs difficult to find? Their website does not seem to have list of clubs. Having said that, we live a bit out of the way so I doubt we'd find a localish one.

KatyBerry · 09/05/2017 10:57

how odd, the site is greyed out on the club list (I think they've had a lot of new ones join lately) - email them. They're a nice bunch. The only region I don't think they're particularly well represented in is SW (Cornwall / Devon) but I may be wrong.

stickygotstuck · 09/05/2017 11:03

FFS, sorry for hijacking your post!

UKG sounds great to me too. You are right, it is bloody hard not to seem pushy. If it helps though, this coach seems to be moody all the time anyway, I'm sure you'll fare better with your club secretary.

2014newme · 09/05/2017 11:08

There are children in our club who have gone on to become very good gymnasts who at the time of selection haven't been able to do things as well as some of the others but clearly have demonstrated potential to learn. This is what I mean by the mystique.
Is be surprised if size or body type cane into it but u wouldn't be surprised if flexibility did. Some gymnasts are limited by their flexibility. They may look brilliant to me, the untrained eye, but I know some that have to so a tonne of flexibility work.

StarUtopia · 09/05/2017 11:11

DD is only 4 but at a decent gym club. I worry about how well she will do etc as the club is so cliquey and a lot of what is described above goes on.

Surely clubs should be looking to be more inclusive and more welcoming?!

KatyBerry · 09/05/2017 11:24

some clubs are there to be inclusive and welcoming to the sport.
Other clubs are there to produce olympic / national champions and welcoming doesn't come into that too much.

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